Review of Single-Phase Magnetoelectric Multiferroic Thin Film and Process

Advance in the growth and characterization of multiferroic thin film promises new device application such as next generation memory, nanoelectronics and energy harvesting. In this review, we provide a brief overview of recent progress in the growth, characterization and understanding of thin-film multiferroics. Driven by the development of thin film growth techniques, the ability to produce high quality multiferroic thin films offers researchers access to new phase and understanding of these materials. We discuss that epitaxial strain and atomic-level engineering of chemistry determine the muliferroic thin film properties. We then discuss the new structures and properties of non-equilibrium phases which is stabilized by strain engineering.